Kasi-2-Kasi takes queer cinema and issues on the road

The Kasi-2-Kasi Queer Cinema festival is screening queer films and documentaries in five provinces during July to educate, challenge and reflect on the lives of LGBTIQ+ communities.

The roaming festival portrays the richness and diversity of the queer community and its culture, experiences and challenges, to strengthen society’s engagement with the community.

Kasi-2-Kasi focuses on townships and rural and semi-rural communities that have little to no access to cinema facilities and resources to engage with LGBTIQ+ content.

The screenings not only provide a space where queer-identifying people meet to watch and discuss films and issues that are important to their community but it’s also an opportunity for parents, families and friends/allies of queer people to share and learn.

“We believe that educating our communities is key in fighting the scourge of hate crimes and gender-based violence with a focus on the LGBTIQ+ community,” said the organisers in a press release.

The screenings are free and all members of society are encouraged to attend. The films are accompanied by facilitated discussions on LGBTIQ+ identities and issues.

The July Kasi-2-Kasi screenings will take place on the following dates:

• 2 July: Abantu Hall, Galeshewe, Kimberley, Northern Cape, 9am-5pm
• 9 July: Mmabana Centre, Mahikeng, North West, 9am – 5pm
• 16 July: Wesselton Community Hall, Msukaligwa, Ermelo, Mpumalanga, 9am – 5pm
• 23 July: Univern, Thohoyandou, Limpopo, 9am – 5pm
• 30 July: KwaZulu-Natal Museum, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, 9am – 5pm

The following topical films and documentaries have been chosen for 2022.

Difficult Love by Zanele Muholi
An intimate, thought-provoking portrait of internationally celebrated South African lesbian photographer, Zanele Muholi, and her highly personal take on the challenges facing black lesbians in South Africa today.

We Live In Fear by Zanele Muholi
This documentary explores the work of the award-winning South African photographer and visual activist Zanele Muholi, who has spent years documenting the lives of black lesbians and transgender people in South Africa.

No Gay Men In Zimbabwe by Carl Collison
Robert (not his real name) is a gay Zimbabwean man who fled to South Africa in the hopes of making this his home. What he found instead was abuse at the hands of other gay men, homophobia from Department of Home Affairs officials as well as the difficulties of navigating the Covid-19 pandemic as a sex worker living in a foreign country.

Covid 19 and Cape Town’s Homeless Transgender Sex Workers by Carl Collison
In various areas of Cape Town, homeless transgender sex workers are living under bridges, in open fields or wherever they can find a space in which to set up a home. The Covid-19 pandemic has affected these women’s lives significantly.

4 Walls by Kamohelo Sebudi, Mahlatse Nare and Theano Shubane
Nathi’ and ‘Karabo’ played by Tshepiso Jeme and Kamohelo Sebudi, share a bond that ceases to exist outside their four walls. The characters take us on a journey of exploration, touching on complexities surrounding identity, freedom, and desire as black queer South African men.

Leave It On the Floor by Sheldon Larry
Brad is bullied by his dysfunctional mom and kicked out of their home for being gay. By chance, he tumbles down the rabbit hole into the LA ballroom scene where he finds a new family.

The Gauteng leg of Kasi-2-Kasi will take place in September and October.